Several Democratic political hopefuls vying for a chance to replace Assemblywoman Grace Meng in the state legislature are also competing for two vital endorsements they hope will give them an edge with voters. Meng and City Councilman Peter Koo, who are both popular in the Flushing-based 40th Assembly District, are fielding numerous requests for their endorsements. Read more: [New York Daily News]

Astoria couple ramps up olive oil sales

An Astoria couple is ramping up sales of the high-end olive oil made from the fruit of their 400-year-old olive grove in Greece. Lori and Panos Konstantopoulos moved back to the U.S. from Greece in the fall to focus on their “Euphoria” extra-virgin olive oil line. The peppery, green oil is sold only in several specialty shops in Manhattan and Long Island. Read more: [New York Daily News]

UPDATE: Family mourns losses in fatal Jamaica SUV crash

Family and friends joined 26-year-old Kingsley Maduka at home. He lost his 60-year-old aunt, Gladys Nnena Johnson Obioha and four other loved ones in the wreck Sunday. Family friend Don Akamnonu said they’re all crushed. “The family is just, like, shattered, like a broken bottle,” he said. Early Sunday morning, a driver and seven passengers were coming home from a gathering of people from the same part of Nigeria when police say their black SUV crashed into a concrete barrier on Atlantic Avenue, rolled over and burst into flames. Read more: [NY1]

A Queens driver was charged with manslaughter Monday after he allegedly struck and killed a cyclist, then fled the scene. Alex Batista, 25, was arraigned Friday night and is being held on $300,000 bail. Police allege that Batista was driving drunk on July 18 in Sunnyside when he hit 37-year-old Roger Hernandez and drove off. Read more: Read more: [NY1]

‘Sex’ cop’s new post

A top city cop embroiled in a sex scandal at a Queens precinct appears set to take a high-level post with the Nassau County Police — a department already tarnished by seedy shenanigans, sources said yesterday. Embattled NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Blake, 50, one of the city’s key anti-terror bosses, is telling colleagues that he’s snagged a new job as assistant police commissioner in Nassau, the law-enforcement sources said. Read more: [New York Post]

Bell cop wants job back

The cop who was fired for starting the barrage of bullets that killed Sean Bell is suing to get his job back. In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Gescard Isnora calls the NYPD’s decision to can him over the 2006 shooting “arbitrary and capricious.” Read more: [New York Post]

A passenger plane crashed into a two-story building in Nigeria’s largest city of Lagos on Sunday, officials said. Read more: USA Today

Man Wanted For Attempted Child Kidnapping In Queens

Police are searching for a man they say tried to kidnap a young boy last week in St. Albans. Authorities say Mark Synclair, 33, tried to grab the seven-year-old child outside P.S. 192 on Tuesday morning. Read more: NY1

Cuomo’s $4 Billion Plan for Project in Queens Falls Apart

A $4 billion plan announced by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to create the country’s largest convention center and a casino in Queens has fallen apart, the governor acknowledged on Friday. Read more: NY Times

A front-row seat at Citi Field: $315. Getting arrested for storming the pitcher’s mound: a possible $1,000 fine and a year in jail. Being a part of Mets history: priceless. Rafael Diaz, 32, lived the dream of every fanatic Friday night when he bolted past security to join the joyous huddle of Amazin’s congratulating pitcher Johan Santana moments after he succeeded in putting in the books the team’s first-ever no-hitter. Read more: NY Post

Three-Car LIE Crash Kills Two In Queens

Two people are dead and a child is injured after a three-car crash on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. Investigators say a yellow taxi cab was traveling westbound on the LIE near 66th Street in Maspeth when it slammed into the rear of a Porsche at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Read more: NY1